In a remarkable milestone, the city of Hail made debut in the Smart City Index 2026, released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
Hail ranked 33rd among 148 cities from around the world, in an achievement that underscores the accelerated progress in transitioning into a smart city, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The IMD Smart City Index measures economic and technological aspects of smart cities on the one hand, and “humane dimensions” of smart cities, such as quality of life, environment, and inclusiveness, on the other.
According to the Index results, Hail excelled in multiple criteria, including health and safety, mobility, urban services, economic opportunities, and digital governance. This has boosted its status among the world’s most developed cities.
The new ranking underscores integrated efforts across various sectors, driven by the implementation of strategic projects and initiatives that support digital transformation, enhance the urban landscape, and improve service efficiency.
These efforts align with modern urban development goals and aim to boost the global competitiveness of Saudi cities, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
In addition to Hail, several Saudi cities made significant strides in the IMD Smart City Index 2026. Riyadh – the highest-ranked Saudi city – advanced three positions to reach the 24th spot. Makkah secured the 50th place, while Jeddah ranked 55th, and Al-Khobar 64th.
In a groundbreaking achievement, AlUla jumped 27 places to the 85th rank, while Hafr Al-Batin made its debut in the 100th position.
